2 Sony Birds. 



the foreigners, many tiny creatures, Waxbills, and 

 Amandavas. When these are safely reared, or once 

 have been brought to England, we have but to 

 make them happy ; it would be cruel to expose them 

 to the misery of being loose} little shivering, trembling 

 strangers, in an unkindly crowd. Poor little creatures, 

 if one of them does get out, how fast it flies to seek 

 some friendly cage ; it knows not the language, the 

 ways and fashions of the birds around it, nor yet 

 does it always meet with the kindest welcome from 

 them. Besides, our home-birds want petting they 

 have no wish, so their gay song tells us, to seek a dirty 

 puddle instead of a crystal bath, to hide from the rain 

 and cower from the cold, instead of hanging singing in 

 a pleasant room, conversing now and then with the 

 friendly company. My Goldfinch, for instance, would 

 he like, indeed, to go out and breakfast on his own 

 small means ? Goldie and I greatly take leave to doubt 

 it ; a flight round the room, while his mistress prepares 

 the breakfast, is much more to Goldie's mind, and the 

 moment it is ready, he pops back very briskly into 

 his cage to eat it. Moreover, would he get such 

 breakfasts every day alone if he were sent to try ? 

 And it is said goldfinches are capable of an attach- 

 ment to hemp seed, that will keep them very regular 

 in returning at proper hours, even when they are 

 allowed to go out into the air. 



2. But most people forget to reckon on the birds* 



